Last updated on July 25th, 2024
You may have noticed the “No fee unless we win” banner on the homepage of this website. It may seem too good to be true, but I promise you, we have represented over 100,000 clients with this arrangement and it works well for both lawyers and clients.
In this post, I will explain why personal injury lawyer costs are more affordable than most other lawyers, and how our fee agreements put all the risk on us, not the client.
In every state, there is a legal process for compensating injury victims for lost wages, medical bills, and property damage. In some cases, they may be required to compensate you for your suffering or other damages. If you’re injured by a defective product or dangerous drug, the company that produced the product or drug may even have to pay punitive damages to you. “Punitive damages” are large sums awarded by the court to the injured party as a punishment to the maker of a dangerous product.
So, how do you go about getting compensated for your injuries? Most of the time, you will need an attorney to file a lawsuit against a defendant and their insurance company. Some people are intimated at the thought of hiring a lawyer because they think they can’t afford the fees.
This isn’t an issue for personal injury lawyers because we work on what is called a “contingent fee” arrangement where we aren’t paid unless you win your case.
Of course, when you’re hurt or sick and struggling to make ends meet, the last thing you want to think about is hiring an attorney. They’re expensive, right? You don’t want to have to pay a huge legal bill on top of all your other expenses. How much does a personal injury lawyer cost?
The answer is: that anyone can afford a personal injury lawyer. For personal injury and certain other types of cases, attorneys work on a contingent fee basis. That means you can afford experienced help on your side.
Attorneys started to use contingent fee payments because they recognized that most people don’t have the resources to hire an attorney upfront, especially if they’re hurt and out of work. However, ordinary people who are hurt and out of work need the help of attorneys the most. A contingent fee lets you get the excellent representation you need to get the compensation you deserve, without putting a huge hole in your wallet.
A “contingent fee” is a fee that only gets paid if you win. In other words, your attorneys will handle your whole case for free. If you win a monetary award, they’ll take a percentage of it at the very end. That means you never have to pay a penny out of pocket. No costly retainer fees, and no expensive hourly billing. In a contingent fee arrangement, the attorneys only get paid if you do. If your case doesn’t result in a payout, they get nothing.
When it comes to working as a personal injury lawyer, one of the most common fee structures is the contingency fee. Unlike hourly billing or flat fees, contingency fees are a fraction or percentage of the final settlement or court award. This arrangement has several facets:
It’s important for both the client and the attorney to have a discussion about the contingency fee agreement before moving forward. Being open from the get-go helps avoid possible mix-ups and puts everyone on the same page about the total possible cost of your personal injury case.
Apart from attorney fees, personal injury cases come with various other costs that go into building a winning case. These costs add up during the legal process and can include:
These expenses can add up quickly, and they exist whether you have a law firm handling your case or not.
Note that, if your case is successful, you may be required to pay court costs and filing fees out of the settlement you receive. These amounts are billed in addition to the contingent fee. You may also have to pay certain fees for expert services. For example, you may have to pay a fee for an accident reconstruction specialist. You’ll only have to pay for those expenses at the end of the case if you win. In a contingent fee arrangement, your attorney will not stick you with a bill for costs in an unsuccessful lawsuit — he or she will pay them.
Additionally, both Ohio state law and the Ohio Bar’s code of ethics for attorneys have rules regarding the use of contingent fee arrangements. State law requires that any contingent fee agreement be set down in writing and signed by both the attorney and the client. The Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct further note that that written agreement must also clearly state whether the client will be liable for any of the expenses associated with filing a particular lawsuit, such as court and filing fees. Fees must be reasonable, considering the difficulty of the case, the time it will take to handle it, and other factors. Also, the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct bar contingent fee arrangements in both criminal and domestic relations cases.
A contingent fee arrangement, or any fee arrangement at all, is just like any other contract. You need to be sure you understand what you’re signing up for. Make sure you’ve discussed the terms regarding the ultimate contingent fee. What percentage is your attorney charging? Is that similar to what other attorneys in the area charge for similar cases? A little research can save you a lot of cash. You’ll also want to address the issue of expenses. Is your attorney going to pay for court costs, filing fees, expert services, and other expenses upfront, or will you have to find the cash?
AN EXPERT TIP FROM DOUG MANN
While contingent fees make legal services available to people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford such help, they’re not perfect. A contingent fee can be an inaccurate form of payment. If your case settles quickly and the attorney doesn’t have to do much work, you may feel like the contingent fee is too high. If your case takes a long time and a lot of work, your attorney may actually be losing money by handling your case. It’s important to be aware of those issues. It’s also important to be aware that contingent fees are fair in the majority of cases; few cases are so quick and easy that you end up overpaying.
Contingency fee arrangements offer several significant advantages, and that is why lawyers and clients often prefer this arrangement.
First, clients do not need to worry about making huge payments for legal fees in the face of a financially hard situation. This makes legal representation affordable for those who might not have the financial resources to hire an attorney otherwise.
Also, since the attorney’s fee is contingent on winning the case, they have a vested interest in achieving a favorable outcome. This alignment of interests often results in attorneys working diligently and aggressively to secure the best possible results for their clients.
With this fee structure, clients bear minimal financial risk because if the attorney does not win the case, the client usually does not owe any attorney fees. This provides peace of mind and allows clients to pursue their claims without fear of financial repercussions.
The timeline for reaching a settlement in a personal injury case is dependent on various issues linked to the case. Typically, these are the factors that can affect the time it would take to resolve a personal injury claim.
While it is hard to tell exactly how long it will take to receive a settlement, you need to maintain open communication with your attorney throughout the process. This may give you a rough idea of the possible resolution timeframe.
Personal injury lawyers represent clients’ interests both in and out of court. They advocate for clients and fight for the best possible outcomes. Therefore, a right to counsel is a right to a fighting chance.
Your lawyer will do the following:
Skilled legal representation can often affect the outcome of your claim. Therefore, it is in your best interest to involve an Ohio personal injury attorney to handle everything from the beginning.
More than anything, you want to make sure your attorney is good at her job. Insurance companies and manufacturers of the products and drugs we use every day are huge corporations.
They have entire teams of attorneys dedicated exclusively to ensuring that they pay as little compensation to injured parties as possible. They’ll also pressure you to accept early settlements for less than you really deserve. It can be hard to say no to that kind of offer, but your attorney knows what your case is worth and can help you negotiate a fair settlement.
To make it even harder, the legal rules for how a case can proceed are complicated and confusing — there’s a reason law school takes 3 years to complete on top of college. Without an attorney, it’s much more difficult to get the compensation you deserve. An attorney will take some of your awards as payment, but that’s much better than getting no award at all. On a contingent fee basis, you get a trained attorney to handle the ins and outs of your case and you don’t have to pay any cash out of pocket.
When looking for a personal injury lawyer cost, the following professional awards and recognition can help you find an experienced lawyer:
Another tip for finding a qualified lawyer is to ask how much experience they have representing the injured. Have a look at their case results page. These resumes don’t guarantee you will have the same result, but they give you a flavor of the types of cases the firm has handled.
If you’ve been injured, contact one of our experienced personal injury attorneys today for a free consultation. Our practice areas also include medical malpractice, workers’ compensation cases, and more. We’ll go over your case with you to help you determine how best to pursue your claim for compensation.
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Before establishing Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz L.P.A., Doug Mann, a top Ohio Injury Attorney served as a bodily injury claims adjuster at a major insurance firm. With over 40+ years of experience, Doug’s background has proven invaluable in securing maximum cash settlements for his clients swiftly. Since leaving the insurance industry, Doug has devoted his entire legal career to assisting injured clients during their times of greatest need.
Mr Bruder and his assistants were extremely professional and knowledgeable. They kept me informed on the progress of my case. After all was done I received a settlement that was fair and reasonable. Would recommend their services 100%
I went into this entire situation not knowing what to expect. Sierra and David are wonderful. Very professional and always answered any questions I had. I hope to never need their services again but if I do, I know the firm I am going to call.
My attorney was/is Dominic Zambelli and from the very start, my experience with him was amazing. He explained what I needed to do for the case, the timeline, and put my mind at ease immediately. Fast forward six months, my case is settled and I am very happy with the result. If you are ever, and I mean EVER, looking for an honest, transparent, and diligent lawyer, call DGM&S and ask for Dominic. You will not be disappointed.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Doug Mann who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a practicing personal injury attorney.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured, please fill out the form below for your free consultation or call us at 1.937.222.2222
